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Although the US is a nation of immigrants, the National Football League is still led by US-born athletes. Only 5% of players are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the game by going to college in the US. True international figures are rare, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which renders James Cook’s story exceptional.

Cook’s Surprising Path to the League

Cook has been in charge of player development at the Browns organization. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and did not played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his father and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He began participating in his area and quickly aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Team GB, but his plans to go to college in the US proved too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d show up around London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”

This is where he encountered Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the IPP program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first British full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific to get them into the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Like his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting rookies, maximising efficiency on the practice field, working closely with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a really active role, which is ideal for me. My background was working with players from abroad who had not played the sport. Rookie newcomers also have to build structure and schedules: learning to look after their health and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being available for players. That’s the same everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who never compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a imagined hurdle than an actual one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the similar things and require support in the identical ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or how you speak. And when players know that you are invested, all the other stuff fades.”

Benefits of Being Beyond the US System

Coming from beyond the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than many think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a variety of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than nurturing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby league player from Australia who won the Super Bowl recently with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the very top.

International Players and Their Paths

International athletes have typically been kickers, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield exchanged soccer for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not educated in the US college system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding American football at university, has made that step. He played in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the Italian was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, soccer and handball, so started the NFL in his teenage years. He impressed while representing teams in Europe and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was given a place on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had periods on the fringes at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in each team but is hasn’t had action on the field. Is his status as a international player still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” says the player. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very inclusive culture, a great team, a top organization.”

Although spending the majority of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his clubs. “Naturally the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my best man, actually – was a receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for a while at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “I would say every nation beyond the US. The better every IPP graduate does, the more youth who play football in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to Florida annually to coach the new group of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back